Gen Z and Trade School: How the Toolbelt Generation Came to Be
Changes in technology are drawing young workers towards skilled labor.
Recent data from an article written by Te-Ping Chen for the Wall Street Journal indicates a notable shift in education and career preferences among young adults — particularly when it comes to Gen Z and trade school. Amidst rampant disillusionment with traditional college paths, younger generations are turning to careers in skilled labor instead. There are many factors contributing to this shift, including the allure of rising pay scales as well as the integration of new technologies.
What We’re Seeing
WSJ reports “enrollment in vocational training programs is surging as overall enrollment in community colleges and four-year institutions has fallen. The number of students enrolled in vocational-focused community colleges rose 16% last year to its highest level since the National Student Clearinghouse began tracking such data in 2018. The ranks of students studying construction trades rose 23% during that time, while those in programs covering HVAC and vehicle maintenance and repair increased 7%.”
Moreover, “the number of carpenters in the U.S. grew over the past decade, while their median age fell from 42.2 to 40.9. The same was true for electricians, whose ranks grew by 229,000 workers, even as their median age fell by 2.9 years, according to federal data. Other skilled trade occupations, such as plumbing and HVAC workers, have also trended younger.”
Trends in Compensation
Statistics reveal a promising trend in compensation as well. Payroll services provider ADP reports, “the median pay for new construction hires rose 5.1% to $48,089 last year. By contrast, new hires in professional services earned an annual $39,520, up 2.7% from 2022…. That’s the fourth year that median annual pay for new construction hires has eclipsed earnings for new hires in both the professional services and information sectors—such as accountants or IT maintenance workers.”
This shift in compensation underscores a perceived sense of job security in the trades as artificial intelligence continues to reign supreme. According to a survey by Jobber, high school and college-age people believe “blue-collar jobs [offer] better job security than white-collar ones, given the growth of AI.”
Change is Here to Stay
As technology continues to evolve, so will the job market. But what does that mean for folks in the trades? Well, you can certainly expect to see more contributions (and job applications) from Gen Z-ers who are making a new name for themselves as the Toolbelt Generation. These young individuals are poised to make significant contributions to the trades with their fresh perspectives, so let’s welcome and educate them well.
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Intriguing article. As someone part of Gen z I never would of thought they would be pursuing trades as they are. It’s good knowing they are others alike. Would like to see more of these types of articles more often. Something that isn’t traditionally seen in the homepage of FHB great stuff.
Interesting and encouraging article. One issue we need to keep in mind is that the trades can be hard on your body.
The most important response is to find ways not to ruin our bodies- safety, mechanization, PPE, safer materials, etc. Women are a good influence- they seem to take better care of themselves. It's not manly to risk your body, your livelihood and your family's future.
The other response is to look at career paths, to set them up so you can afford to retire when it's time. Everyone should have a pension and good, well-managed 401k.